Vapor electric device



Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICEProperty Custodian Application May 20, 1941, Serial No. 394,308 InGermany February 1, 1940 4 Claims.

Our invention relates to a vapor electric device and particularly to ananode insulator for a high voltage are converter.

Heretofore, arc converters of the steel-tank type have been equipped, asa rule, with anode bushings of tubular shape. And in are converters forhigh voltages, in which auxiliary electrodes are mounted along thedischarge path whose potentials have values comprised between the anodeand the cathode potential, the anode insulators are often used forsupporting said auxiliary electrodes. But when this practice is resortedto, anode insulators of considerable length must be used, in order toestablish creepage paths of sufficient resistance between the supportingmembers for said auxiliary electrodes.

It is the purpose of the present invention to produce an anode insulatorof relatively small dimensions which will have more in particular ashort length in the direction of its longitudinal axis and which, forthis reason, will not occupy much space. An anode insulator designed inaccordance with the present invention essentially consists of a discprovided with a plurality of concentric, ring-shaped ribs to which, whenthe necessity arises, can be fastened grid-structures and otherauxiliary electrodes.

It i desirable from a manufacturing standpoint to choose the lengths ofthese concentric ribs in the direction of the longitudinal axis in sucha manner that in the direction from the center towards the outer edge ofthe anode-insulator disc, the ribs will become shorter and shorter. Theoutermost rib can be utilized for establishing a connecting jointbetween the anode insulator and the evacuated vessel, or between thisinsulator and the tubular extension chambers or arms of thearc-converter vessel.

An anode insulator designed in accordance with the present invention hasthe important advantage that in spite of its short length in thedirection of the longitudinal axis, it is suitable for supporting theauxiliary electrodes, while on account of the peculiar disposition ofthe ribs, long creepage distances will separate the various metal partsattached to the anode insulator.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through an anode assembly according toour invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification according to ourinvention.

The exemplary showing according to Figure 1 of this drawing shows ananode bushing arranged in accordance with the present invention,involving the use of an anode insulator (made, for instance, of aceramic material) which essentially consists of a disc I provided withconcentric, ring-shaped ribs 2. The outermost rib is used for attachingthe anode insulator to the metal wall 3 of an arc-converter vessel bymeans of a vacuum-tight seal. The cylindrical member formed by theinnermost rib surrounds the anode stem 4 to which the anode body 5 isattached. A supporting member 6 for an auxiliary electrode is alsoattached to one of the ribs 2 of the anode insulator.

An anode insulator of slightly difierent construction is employed in theanode bushing illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The ribs 2 of thisanode insulator are of different lengths; in fact, they become shorteras we proceed from the center towards the edge of the insulator disc.This insulator can be heated by means of a heater coil 1 that is locatedat the periphery of the insulator, between the ribs 8.

While for purposes of illustration we have shown and described specificstructures according to our invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the true spirit of our invention or thescope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An anode lead-in bushing for a vacuum arc device vessel comprising asubstantially annular body portion of insulating material, asubstantially centrally located opening in said annular body, an anodestem passing through said opening, and secured in vacuum-tight relationthereto, a plurality of annular ribs concentric with said centrallylocated opening, the innermost of said annular ribs being of greaterlength than the remaining ribs.

2. An insulating bushing for introducing a lead-in conductor into thevessel of a vapor-electric device comprising a disc-like body ofinsulating material, there being an opening in said disc, a conductorextending through said opening, a vacuum-tight seal between saidconductor and said disc, a plurality of annular ribs concentric withsaid opening, said ribs decreasing in height from the center to theperiphery of the disc, means for making a vacuum-tight seal between saidvessel and the outermost of said ribs.

3. An insulating bushing for introducing a lead-in conductor into thevessel of a vapor-electric device comprising a disc-like body ofinsulating material, there being an opening in said disc, a conductorextending through said opening, a vacuum-tight seal between saidconductor and said disc, a plurality of annular ribs conery of said discand a heating element between said ribs.

4. An anode insulator according to claim 2, characterized by the featurethat a heater coil 5 is provided at the periphery of the insulatcr.

ALFRED SIEMENS. HANS VON BERTELE.

WILLI BURGSMTJ'LLER.

